Combined punching and uncurling machine



May 10, 1960 G. A. RowLEY COMBINED PUNCHING AND UNCURLING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1955 May 10, 1960 G. A. RowLEY COMBINEDPUNCHING AND UNCURLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1953 May10, 1960 G. A. RowLEY 2,935,752

COMBINED PuNcHING AND UNCURLING MACHINE Filed May 27. 195s 5sheets-sheet s 46 48 l Jima 7/ f5 72 69 @5 6a' 745k @72 65 652 @a 66' @a65 @5' May 10, 1960 G. A. RowLEY 2,935,752

COMBINED PUNCHING AND UNCURLING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 4 May l0, 1960 G. A. RowLEY 2,935,752

COMBINED PUNCHING AND UNCURLING MACHINE Filed Nay 27, 195s 5sheets-sheet 5 United States Patent COMBINED PUNCHING AND UN CURLINGMACHINE George Albert Rowley, Boreham Wood, England, assignor to PlasticBinding Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of DelawareApplication May 27, 1953, Serial No. 357,758

Claims. (Cl. 11--1) This invention concerns improvements relating toapparatus for binding books, pamphlets or other assemblies of sheets bymeans of resilient tubular binders of the kind formed from a comb-shapedbody, usually of thermoplastic material, by rolling the said body sothat the ends of the comb teeth are curled into engagement with otherportions of the binder.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanical device fortemporarily uncurling the teeth ,sufficiently to enable the sheets,which have been previously slotted, to be engaged thereover.

Such a device, in accordance with the invention, comprises holding meanswith which the spine portion of the binder can be engaged, hooks withwhich the teeth of the binder can be engaged by simple sliding movementof the holding means and binder, in the longitudinal direction of thelatter, in relation to the hooks, and means for moving the hooks atright angles to the binder for uncurling the teeth of the latter.

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along the top front member of the frame 1, with the top of the bar andthe plate 2 ush, by means of shouldered screws 12 passing throughlongitudinal slots 13 in the bar (Figure which slots permit of a limitedlongitudinal sliding movement of the said bar. The bar 9 is urgedtowards its, initial, lefthand end position by a light rtension spring14 (Figure l). The posts '7 are orf half-circular cross section and of awidth rather less than that of the slots 10.

Located in front of the bar 9, with its top at a slightly higher level,is a bar having a series of horizontally disposed hooks 16 secured toit, by means of screws 17, at the pitch of the slots 10. Each hook 16 ismade of a simple length of wire extending rearwardly from the bar 15 andhaving its end bent to the left yat right angles. The bent end 18 liesclosely in front of the at face of the coacting post 7 in the initialrelative disposition of the hook and post (Figure 4), the length of theend 18 being substantially equal to the Width of the post 7. As may beseen from Figure 4, this arrangement permits a comb to be placed uponthe binding means without obstruction. The half-cyclindrical shape ofthe posts allows the hook ends 18 to be brought close to the posts 7,thus'ensuring Figure l is a 4front elevation of a combination machinecomprising a device for uncurling binders and a device for punchingbinding slots in sheets,

Figure 2 a side elevation thereof,

Figure 3 a plan View to a larger scale,

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail plan views to a yet larger scaleillustrating three stages in an uncurling operation,

Figures 7 and 8 are detail side elevations corresponding to Figures 4and 6,

Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectionthrough a punch and die unit, v

Figure l0 a detail side elevation of locking means, and

Figure 1l a detail front elevation thereof.

The machine comprises an upright framework l which supports, at therear, a horizontal metal plate 2 with binder-uncurling means 3 in frontof it and, at a lower level at the front, a removable table '4 withslot-punching means 5 behind it. A particularly simple, easily operatedand compact combination machine results from the aforesaid arrangement.I l

Under the plate 2, which takes the form of a cover hinged to the frame 1at 6, is simple operating mechanism for the uncurling means. This coveris shown open in Figure 3. Means for holding the binder while its teethare being uncurled comprises a row of vertical posts y7 replaceablysecured by set screws 8 in the top of a bar 9, lthepitch of the posts 7beingequal to the'- pitch of the slots 10 between the comb teeth ,11,-asis best seen by reference to Figure 6. The bar 9 is mounted v a scalel33 of adjustments which is visible through ana compact arrangement andallowing the uncurling means to be used with binders of small diameter.

The hook bar 15 is supported near its ends by rods 19 which extend atright angles to the said bar and are guided, in a front member 30 of theframework 1 and in brackets 20 (Figure 3), for movement away from andtowards 'the bar 9. The rods 19 pass through the bar 9 by way of slots.The bar 15 is urged towards its initial posi-tion adjacent to the bar 9(Figure 4) by helical compression springs 21 arranged on the rods 19(Figure 3). To permit movement to be imparted to the bar 15, the rods 19are connected by a cross rod 22 engaged by forked arms 23 on a lowershaft 24 extending parallel to said cross rod. The shaft 24 also carriesan arm 25 connected by a link 26 to a pedal 27 mounted on a shaft 28 inthe lower part of the framework 1. Movement of the bar 15 away from thebar 9 may be limited, to suit the size of binder to be opened, by meansof a stop 29 (Figure 3) which is adjustable towards and away from theframe member 30 by means of a screw 3i1 which is mounted in the bar 15and rod 2,2 so as to be rotatable but not axially movable in relation tothe bar 15 and which engages by .its thread with the stop 29. Rotationof Ithe stop is prevented by a rearwardly extending flatstrip 32 restingon the rod 22. This strip may also bear opening 34 in the plate2.Adjustment is effected by a knob 35 on the front end of the screw 31.

The manner of use of the part of the machine so far described is asfollows: l

With the posts 7 and hooks 16 on the bars 9 and15 respectively in therelative positions shown in Figure 4,

a curled binder is placed over the posts 7 with its spine' `36 to therear thereof (Figures 4 and 7). The bar 9 is then moved to the right byhand to bring the posts 7 and the binder into the position shown inFigure 5. The movement is thus sufficient to carry the curled teeth 11over the ends 18 of the respective hooks 16 to the right thereof. Thepedal 27 is then depressed to move the hook bar 15 forwardly away fromthe post bar 9 (Figure 6), so that the binder teeth 11 are uncurled bythe hooks 16 (Figures 6 and 8). Slotted sheets to be bound can beengaged over the teeth 11 at this stage. During the forward movement ofthe bar 15, the bar 9 is effectively prevented from returning to theleft by the frictional engagement between the comb teeth 11 and hooks16. After the sheets have been placed onthe teeth 11, the pedal 27 isreleased and the bar 15 is drawn back to the position shown in Figure 5,whereupon the bar 9 is returned auto- E matically by the spring 14 tothe initial position shown in Figure 4. The binder and sheets boundthereby are then removed.

A stop piece 37 may be provided which has a hook 38 engageable insidethe spine 36 at the right-hand end of the binder when the bar 9 is movedto the right, as shown in 'Figure 5. The hook 3S helpsV to preventbending of the unsupported free end of the binder. The stop piece 37 issecured in position by a screw 39 and locating pin 40 which areengageable in selected holes '41, 42 of lines of such holes in the plate2, the holes being selected to suit the length of binder to be used. Thescrew 39 may also serve to secure the plate 2 in the closed position,for which purpose it is screwed through the selected hole 41 into one ofa line of corresponding holes 43 in the frame member 30 (Figure 3).

The above-decribed simple machine enables binders.

to be opened and engaged with sheets at a high rate Yol production. Itcan be used with binders of different lengths and' diameters and couldbe adapted for different tooth sizes and tooth pitches. It can also heused for binding with a plurality of short binders instead of one longone, in which case several stop pieces 37 may be provided. The simplecompact nature of the machine makes it suitable for offices or othercomparatively small establishments.

It is particularly for use in these establishments, that such a machinemay advantageously also comprise a device for punching the binding slotsin the sheets. For this purpose, slot-punching means 5 (Figure l) isprovided comprising a series of punch and die units each of which isreadily removable and replaceable. As illustrated in Figure 9, eachpunch comprises a punch part 44 proper and a full cylindrical body 45with a neck 46. As shown, the part 44 is of flattened cross-section, butretains the rounded form of the body at the ends of the section, whichoccupies a diametrical position in relation to the said body. However,punch parts of other shapes within the circumference of the body part 45may be employed. The necks 46 of the several punches are engaged inslots 47 in a supporting bar 48 secured to a robust transverse punch bar49. The ends of the bar 49 are guided in vertical slots 50 (Figure 2) inside members 51 of the framework 1 and are connected by pivots 52 andvertical links 53 to crank pins or eccentric pins 54 at the ends of alower shaft 55. The shaft 55 (Figure l) carries a sprocket wheel 56 overwhich runs a chain 57 connected at one end by a link 58 to a pedal 59mounted on the shaft 28 and at the other end through aY tension returnspring `60 to a fixedV anchorage 61. The

effective movement of the shaft 55 (for example ratherr more than 90) islimited by stop means comprising adjustable fixed stops 62 and a stoplinger 621 movable with the shaft. By this simple mechanism, adequatemechanical advantage for the punching operation can be electivelysecured.

Each die (Fig. 9) comprises a slot 63' in a die-plate 63 which ismounted flush with the table 4 on a forward shelf-like part 64 of a body65. The die plate is received in a slot 651 in the said body and isscrewed to the part 64 thereof by screws 641. The part 64 has a flange66 secured by a single screw 661 to the front of a robust bar 67 whichis connected to the framework 1 in readily removable fashion by means oflarge accessible screws 671. A rear ledge 652 on the body 65 is receivedunder a lip 672 on a strip 673 secured to the bar 67. A slot 68 in thebar 67 below the die slot 63 allows the punchings to fall clear. Thebody 65 is formed with an upstanding part 69 which serves to steady andguide the punch, for which purpose it has a bore 71 for guiding thecylindrical portion 45 of the punch and a slot 72 through which worksthe punch proper 44. Its lower endv serves to striprthe sheets from thepunch.

ST0 insert a complete punch and die unit, it has only to beA placed inposition from.A the Vfront with the punch- Vtable 4 (Figure l).

neck 46 engaged in the slot 47 and the screw 661 tightened. Removal of aunit is equally simple. Units not required for a given punchingoperation may be removed. The sheets to be punched are laid on the table4 and pushed rmly back into the slot 73 (Figure 9) formed for thispurpose.

An adjustable end stop for the sheets comprises a post 74 screwed into aslider 75 guided in a slot 76 in the The post 74 and slider 75 aresecured in position when the post is screwed down tightly. By adjustingthis stop appropriately and, if necessary, removing punch and die unitsnot required, the slots n the sheets may be located as required inrelation to the length of the rear edges thereof.

If desired, positive means may be provided for preventing return of thepost bar 9 to the left once the hook bar 15 has commenced its forwardmovement. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, locking means for the purposemay comprise a lever 74 with a latch piece 75 which is normally heldclear of the post bar 9 by a stop 76' fast on the shaft 24 (full-lineposition in Figures l0 and ll), but can be drawn into the locking(dotted line) position by a tension spring 77' when the shaft 24 isturned anticlockwise for moving the hook bar 15 forward. The latch piece75 then rises beside ,the left-hand end of the post bar 9, alreadyshifted to the right, and prevents return of the said bar until the hookbar is retracted.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes there hashere been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the precise construction. herein shown, the same being merelyillustrative of the principles of the invention. What is considered newand sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A device for temporarily uncurling the teeth of binders of the kindset forth for the purpose of allowing Slotted sheets to be engaged overthe teeth, comprising a bar having a line of opstanding posts forholding the binder between adjacent teeth thereof, a bar having a lineof hooks with laterally directed ends which, in the initial positions ofthe bars, are located one closely in front of each post, the posts beingof semi-circular cross section and the hooks having str-aight endportions which in the initial positions of the bars are located closelyIagainst the at front faces of the respective posts, means for movingthe rst bar in the direction of its length for engaging the teeth of thebinder over the hooksfand means for moving the second bar ,away fromtherst in a direction at right angles thereto.

2. A device for temporarily uncurling the teeth of binders of the kindset forth for the purpose of allowing slotted sheets to be engaged overthe teeth, comprising manually actuated binder holding means includingaline of holding posts behind which the spine portion of the binder canbe engaged, hooks with which the teeth of the binder can be engaged,means supporting said binder holding means for sliding movement in thedirection of theV line of holding posts, means for moving the hookshorizontally at right angles to the said direction, a pedal operatedmechanism for operating the hooks in one direction, 'and ,spring .meansurging said binder holding means and hooks inthe opposite direction.

3. In a .device for uncurling loopedy teeth'of tubular binders, a bindersupporting means, an uncurling means including projections for engagingthe teeth of the binders, means supporting one of said means formovement ,relative'to the other of said means whereby Athe projectionsare selectively locatable either in a position between the binder teethor in a position within the binder teeth, means for locking one of saidmeans in a position-where said projections extend into the loops of thebinder teeth, and additional hook member .adapted to engage the vendofthebinder whenthe projections are. n a position exi tending into theloops of the binder teeth, and means for tubular binders comprisingiirst-means for supporting av binder, second means including projectionswith .which the teeth of the binder can be engaged, third means forsupporting one of said lirst two mentioned means for movement relativeto the other of said rst two mentioned means so that the projections maybelocated selectively in a rst position between the binderjjteeth and ina second position within the binder teeth, yfourth `means for urging themovable one of said two rst mentioned means into a position where theprojections are located between the binder teeth, ifth means for movingthe movable oneof said iirst two mentioned means laterally with respectto the other of said lirst two mentioned means to eect the uncurling ofthe binder teeth, spring urged means for locking said second means insaid second position, stop means for preventing operation of the springurged means and means vresponsive to the movement of the movable one ofthe first two mentioned means laterally away from the other of the firsttwo mentioned means to disable said stop means and permit operation ofsaid springurged means to lock said projections into said secondposition. j

5.` In a device forvuncurling the teeth of a comb-type tubular binder, aframe, first means for supporting a tubular binder with its longitudinalaxis horizontally oriented, second means supporting said rst means forhorizontal movement on said frame in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the tubular binder supported said projections arebetween the binder teeth to a position where the binder teeth align withthe projections in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axisof the binder, spring means urging said second means into a positionwhere the projections are between the binder teeth, spring urged meansfor locking said second means in said second position, stop means forpreventing operation of the spring urged means and means to disable saidstop means and permit operation of said spring urged means for movingsaid uncurling means laterally of said rst means for uncurling thebinder teeth. f

7. 1n la device for uncurling the teeth of a comb-type tubular binder, aframe, first means' for supporting a tubular binder, slidably mountedsecond means supporting said -rst means for movement on said frame in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular bindersupported thereon, an uncurling means in proximthereon, an uncurlingmeans in proximity to` said binder support means and carrying a row ofbinder teeth engaging projections aligned in saidrrdirection, saidsecond means enabling said binder support means to be movedindependently of said uncurlingmeans from a position, where saidprojections are between the binder teeth to a n position where thebinder teeth overlap the projections, spring means urging said secondmeans into a position ity to said binder support means and carrying arow of binder -teeth engaging projections aligned in said direction,said second means enabling said binder support means to be movedmanually independently of said uncurling means from a position whereSaid projections are betweenthe binder teeth to a position where thebinder teeth aline with the projections in a direction at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of the binder, spring actuated means forlooking said second means in their moved positions means for moving saiduncurling means laterally ofrsaid rst means for uncurling the binderteeth and for returning the same to permit recurling of the binderteeth, and means for returning said second means to their initialpositions.

8. A device for "temporarily uncurling binders ot the kind set forth forthe purpose of allowing slotted sheets to be engaged over the teeth,comprising binder holding means with which the spine portion of thebinder can be engaged, hooks with which the teeth of the binder can beengaged, means supporting said binder holding means for sliding movementin the direction of the longitudinal axis of the binder, means formoving Vthe hooks at right angles to the said direction for uncurlingthe teeth of the binder, and an additional fixed where the projectionsare betweenthe binder teeth, stop means for preventing operation of thespring means, andA means for moving said uncurling means horizontallyand.

laterally of said iirst means for uncurling the binder teeth.

6. In a device for uncurling the teeth of a comb-type .tubular binder, aframe, irst means for supportinga tubular binder, second meanssupportingsaid rst means for movement on said frame in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular binder supportedthereon, an uncurling means in proximity to said binder ysupport meansand carrying a row of binder teeth engaging projections aligned in saiddirection, said second means enabling said binder support means to bemoved gindependently of said uncurling means from a position where hookover which the end of the binder is engaged when the binder holdingmeans and the binder are moved longitudinally of the latter.

References Cited in the tile of this patent l UNrrED STATES PATENTS1,062,753 Woodley May 27, 1913 1,409,742 Ling -a Mar. 14, 1922 2,257,714Emmer Sept. 30, 1941 2,334,815 Emmer Nov. 23, 1943 2,593,805 Spinner etal. Apr. 22, 1952 2,603,801 Emmer July 22, 1952 2,638,986 Emmer May 19,1953 the teeth of

